Between two Massachusetts residential and long-term care facilities, 103 veterans have died — 85 of whom tested positive for coronavirus.
As of Monday, Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea lost 26 veteran residents, with 19 testing positive for the virus. Holyoke Soldier’s Home, which is currently under federal investigation, has lost 77 veteran residents. Of those, 66 tested positive for Covid-19.
Another 83 veterans and 81 employees of Holyoke and 28 residents and 53 staff at the Chelsea facility have tested positive.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced an additional $130 million in funding for nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the state to provide additional staff, personal protective equipment and cleaning and disinfecting of the facilities. It will also be mandatory for residents and staff to be tested and facilities will be audited to make sure they are meeting infection control requirements.
“Clearly protecting our most vulnerable citizens in nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living residence has emerged as one of the greatest challenges we face in our fight against Covid-19,” Baker said.
The outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers’ home could be due in part of to systemic issues that have plagued the facility for years, according to staff and union accounts. Now, it is under a federal investigation.
The US attorney’s office in Massachusetts announced an investigation with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division earlier this month into “whether the Soldiers’ Home violated the rights of residents by failing to provide them adequate medical care generally, and during, the coronavirus pandemic.”
Source: 103 veterans have died between 2 facilities in Massachusetts
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